For an easy mussel pasta dish, we’ve shared a simple recipe that uses frozen mussels. However, if you want to use fresh mussels, and have a reputable fish counter near you, then this recipe will also work just as well with the fresh variety. You’ll need to factor in additional cooking time to soak and steam the mussels, but this will only add around 15 extra minutes to the recipe. Make sure you purchase mussels with tightly closed shells. You could also pick-up a few clams with your mussels, if you’d like to add another shellfish ingredient to this dish. If cooking with mussels is a new experience for you, have a read of our helpful article outlining 26 essential things to know about this sweet and salty seafood ingredient.
Where possible, don’t skip the inclusion of the dry white wine. Its crisp profile lifts the flavors of seafood in pasta dishes, and the acidity helps to cut through the richness of the sauce in this recipe. Opt for a grape, such as Sauvignon Blanc, that’s dry, acidic, and a little fruity.
Sauce Variations and Enhancements
Mussels with a garlic and lemon creamy sauce is a classic flavor combination for this pasta dish, but there are lots of different variations you can try. Mussel pasta in tomato sauce is another popular dish, where the sweetness of the tomatoes perfectly balance the brininess of the mussels.
To enhance the creamy sauce option in the recipe above, try adding a handful of fresh parsley to the sauce, which brings bright, peppery flavors to balance the richness of the cream. For an elevated dish, saffron adds subtle, floral aromas and introduces an inviting golden color to the sauce.
How to Present Mussel Pasta Elegantly
This pasta dish can be served fresh from the skillet into your favorite pasta bowl, with a lemon wedge on the side, a helping of garlic bread, and a final grind of black pepper for a rustic presentation. If you’re cooking this dish for a dinner party, however, you can plate it more elegantly. Use tongs to transfer the pasta to the center of your pasta bowl, and rotate the plate gently to create a nest in the middle of the plate. You can then add a lemon wedge to the side and top the pasta with more mussels as needed to complete the presentation. A sprinkle of red chili pepper flakes adds a colorful and refined finish to the plate and brings a welcome heat to the dish.
